In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, some state regulators have temporarily eased rules to allow loan originators to telecommute.

The outstanding supply of home-equity debt fell close to the $500 billion mark in late 2019, and depository HELOC holdings dropped to $402 billion. (Includes three data charts.)

The list of mortgage industry-related conferences called off due to concerns tied to the spread of the coronavirus is growing day by day.

In more troubles for Sterling Bank and Trust, the lender’s residential mortgage operations are now under investigation by the Department of Justice.

Fannie, Freddie and Ginnie securitized $51.1 billion of conforming-jumbo loans in the fourth quarter of 2019, but that represented 29.5% of total jumbo production. (Includes three data charts.)

With rates falling to historic lows this week, originators are salivating at the possibilities. But will the boom bring capacity issues? Maybe, maybe not.

DoubleLine Capital has picked up a minority stake in OptionWide Financial, while MFA Financial has put its might behind five non-qualified-mortgage lenders.

The A-paper M&A market is in the doldrums. The reason: lenders are making money hand-over-fist and company owners are hanging on for one last shot at the refi rodeo.

For the second year in a row, first-time buyers accounted for over half of agency purchase-mortgage business. Despite a substantial dip in the fourth quarter, overall purchase originations in 2019 hit their highest level in more than a decade.

Low interest rates are great for lenders but servicers are having a tough time of it, especially shops looking to unload product. One dealmaker is advising clients to sell MSRs now before they “vaporize.”